On December 30th, Feast of the Holy Family, let us break bread together as Family. Bring your best soup or salad to share. (Please provide your bowels and spoons) Cakes and pies are welcome.
Sign up sheets are on the back table in church. Lets’s close out the year with a bang!

The Second Bingo will be held on Wednesday, December 12th in the St. Francis Grade School cafeteria beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Parishioners of St. Francis are asked to donate household items as prizes for the Second Bingo to raise funds for the 2019 Mardi Gras (Saturday, February 16, 2019).
Household items for prizes include towels, sheets and pillow covers, non-perishable cleaning items and gift cards. You can bring them to the church on Sunday or to the parish office during the week.

On Tuesday, December 4th, St. Francis Parish will have a Penance Service with the Sacrament of Reconciliation available, in the church, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Every first and third Saturday of the month, one of the priests is available for Confessions in the church from 11:00 a.m. till noon.
On Wednesday, December 5th, Faith Formation night at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, there will be a Penance Service, beginning at 6:00 p.m. If you cannot make Tuesday’s service, you are welcome to attend Wednesday’s service.
These will be the two Penance Services ...

The Secular Franciscans will have their Christmas party and regular meeting after 11 AM Mass on December 2nd. Members will please bring food for the potluck and a "Dirty Santa" gift. Please also remember to bring items for our Food Pantry, prison, nursing home, and animal shelter projects. If anyone is interested in learning about our Order, please contact a member

The Pastoral Staff of our parish extends to all our parishioners and guest and all you loved ones our prayers for a blessed and happy Thanksgiving Day and weekend. May God grant safe travels to all those who will be visiting away. Thanksgiving Day Mass will be in the church at 9:00 a.m. All are welcome and encouraged to join on our national holiday to give thanks to our good God for all the blessings we have received and that we continue to be a blessing for others

Beginning November 12, 20418 you can make an advanced day #iGiveCatholic gift in support of our school at St. Francis of Assisi School, or on #GivingTuesday, Nov. 27!
For more information on #iGiveCatholic

Did you know that November is Black Catholic History Month?
This month, we’re honoring the men and women from Africa who have pioneered the faith! Many forget that Christianity didn’t start in Europe. Black Catholics have had a huge impact on the history and traditions of Christianity. The church has been celebrating Black Catholic History Month since 1990 when the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States instigated it. November seemed appropriate because it holds special days for two prominent African Catholics: St. Augustine...

Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA (Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration) was originally from Canton, MS and was an energetic woman of faith who preached the Gospel from her heart with her whole life. Next Sunday, November 18th, at St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral in Jackson, MS, at the 10:30 a.m. Mass, Bp. Joseph Kopacz will declare her a Servant of God, the first official step toward declaring her a Blessed and then a Saint in the Catholic Church. A small delegation from our parish will be going. For further information, please see our sister, Maxine Ford.

Let us remember the holy men and women of African descent of the United States who are being recommended to the altars of the Church – Fr. Augustus Tolton, Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA and Pierre Toussaint. In light of their heroic lives in service of God and his Church, even facing discrimination, let us commit our lives to love the Lord our God with our whole hearts and our neighbors – even our enemies! – as ourselves.

Solemnity of All Saints - November 1st - Holy Day of Oblifation Mass of All Saints will be celebrated with the children of St. Francis School on Thursday, November 1st, at 9 a.m.
Other opportunities to worship God: Masses for the Holy Day will also be celebrated at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Wednesday, October 31st at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, November 1st at noon and 6:00 p.m. The Redemptorists will celebrate the Holy Day on Thursday at Mercy Chapel of Locus Benedictus at 9:00 a.m.

This coming Saturday, November 3rd, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish is hosting a Garage Sale to benefit St. Francis Parish. It will be from 6:00 a.m. till noon in the Parish Center. If you have any household items in good condition that you would like to donate, you may take them to IHM during the week. Javier Gómez is in charge of this event. Thank you for your support!

The Mardi Gras Committee is sponsoring a Fish Fry this coming Saturday, November 3rd, from 11:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. The meal includes catfish, spaghetti, coleslaw, bread, cold drink and cake. The cost is $8.00 per person. This will benefit the preparations for our annual Mardi Gras Ball for next February. Come and enjoy!

St. Francis of Assisi School is participating in the Cross Catholic Box of Joy project.
Every year thousands of poor children experience a Christmas without hope. Burdened by poverty, their parents are simply too poor to provide anything but the most basic necessities. These are children who have never held a picture book. Never wore a new shirt. Never owned a toy.
The gifts you pack in a Box of Joy show God's unconditional love and spark the joy every child should experience at Christmas. ...

“The St. Francis Show” on 104.3 FM (WGNL) each Thursday at 10:30 am. You can also follow live-streaming on the parish’s Facebook page. Derrick Faucheux is the show’s weekly host. It is an outreach of St. Francis Parish to share the Good News of Jesus in our contemporary world.

Next Sunday is WORLD MISSION SUNDAY. We Catholics are called to be part of the Church’s universal missionary efforts, supporting mission priests, religious Sisters and Brothers, and lay catechists who provide loving service to those most in need. As Catholics around the world — here at home and in the Missions— gather at the Eucharist around the table of the Lord, let us...
1.PRAY for the Church’s worldwide missionary work
2.OFFER financial HELP through The Society for the PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH for vulnerable communities throughout Asia, Afric...

Think Pink! While cancer awareness is important 356 days a year, the month of October every year is designated to remind everyone to check – at least annually – for breast cancer. And this means men AND women! Please make an appointment with your doctor or locate a place here in Leflore County where you can have a mammogram done for free.
Cada octubre en los EUA es el mes de recordarles a todas las mujeres y hombres (sí, ¡es cierto!) que visiten a su médico a recibir las pruebas de cáncer de seno. Por favor, ¡cuídense por visitar a su médico! El c...

Fr. Cam is leading a Bible Study on Mondays at 6:00 p.m. in the Friary Library. Everyone is invited to grow in their Catholic Faith by becoming familiar with the sacred texts which announce God’s salvation. Please bring yourself and a Bible! And, bring a friend, too!

The feast day of St. Francis of Assisi is held each year on October 4th. This year, that falls on this coming Thursday
and will be the School Mass at 9:00 a.m. On Sunday, the day after the Fall Festival, we will be celebrating our parish’s feast day at both Masses.
There will be a fellowship of delicious food following our 11:00 a.m. Mass in the school cafeteria. Please join us! Bring a dessert and invite a friend!

October is the traditional Month of the Holy Rosary for Catholics. Our parish will sponsor a Rosary Rally here at St. Francis on Saturday, October 13th, at noon, at the statue of the Blessed Mother in front of the Sisters’ convent. All are encouraged and invited to attend to intercede with the Mother of God for the needs of our Church, our local community, our nation, our state and our world.

Bishop Joseph Kopacz is inviting the people of God of the Diocese of Jackson to attend and participate in four listening sessions to reflect on and respond to the pain of the current sexual abuse crisis in our country. Sr. Dorothy Heiderscheidt, OSF, will be the facilitator. Please read the Diocesan Statement at Catholic Diocese of Jackson prior to attending. There will be a Spanish-language interpreter available at all sessions. Sessions at the following dates, times and locations:
Thursday, October 4: Tupelo, St. James Parish at 7PM
Friday, October 5: Cle...

On the Feast of St. Therese, the Little Flower
Monday, October 1st at 6 PM
Chapel of Mercy at Locus Benedictus
This is a time of sadness and shame for our Church. It is also a time to turn in trust to our Good Shepherd, Jesus, for mercy and healing. Join us as we intercede for all ordained ministers and religious in our diocese and in the world. We will pray for the forgiveness and conversion of those who have participated in the sin of sexual abuse. We will pray for the healing of young people and famili...

The annual commemoration of the passing (transitus) of St. Francis of Assisi will take place in St. Francis Church on Wednesday evening, October 3rd, at 6:00 p.m. This reflective celebration is practiced throughout the world wherever Franciscans – friars, nuns, Sisters, lay people and youth – live and serve.

Fr. Sanchez and Fr. Kim would like to meet with the parents of those children who attend Wednesday evening Faith Formation this coming Wednesday, September 12th, immediately after the light supper (around 6:15 p.m.). We look forward to seeing you there!

The annual Youth Canned Food Drive will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Sunday, September 23rd at 2:30 p.m. Please help our youth by bringing canned food items to St. Francis Church in the yellow bags in the back of the church. Derrick Faucheux is coordinating this event for our parish community.

An annual Financial Report for fiscal year 2017-2018 will be handed to parishioners at the end of the Masses on Sunday, September 16th. A Town Hall meeting will take place the following Sunday, September 23rd, following the Masses to review and discuss the Financial Report and the parish’s financial situation.
Reporte de Finanzas y una Reunión Parroquial. Un reporte anual de finanzas para el año fiscal 2017-2018 de nuestra parroquia va a salir el domingo, el 16 de septiembre, al final de las misas. Una reunión parroquial se llevará a cabo el domingo sig...

15th National Black Catholic Men's Conference
"Know Yourself to Share Yourself"
October 18 - 21, 2018
Richmond, VA
The 15th Annual National Black Catholic Men’s Conference provides a forum for African American males and youth to discern the critical issues and challenges facing them in the community. It also provides an environment of mentorship and support for those seeking a vocation in priesthood, brotherhood and the diaconate.
Register at: www.bowmanfrancisministry.com
Cost: Adults: $150.00, Co...

Save the Date for the Annual Fall Festival! Saturday, October 6th Saturday, October 6th, will be the annual Fall Festival that benefits St. Francis Grade School.
Everyone’s presence and participation to support St. Francis School is always much appreciated. This is a great time for the St. Francis community to come together for great food, games for the kids, Draw Down and other activities.

Each Wednesday at 9 AM, St. Francis School comes together for the celebration of Mass. Join our children with their beautiful singing as we give thanks to God for all good gifts - especially the gift of education.

The Latino community of St. Francis Parish is sponsoring a “kermés” on Saturday, September 15th outdoors at the grade school, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
A kermés is a Mexican festival and this one is family-oriented. The requested donation is $5.00 per person (over 5 years old) and $15.00 per family (over three persons). This is a fundraising event to benefit St. Francis Parish. It is coinciding with Mexican Independence Day (15-16 September) and is being called “A Mexican Evening.”
Traditional Mexican food will also be availa...

This Sunday, July 29th, marks the 70th anniversary of the arrival of the first two Franciscan friars of Assumption BVM Province to Greenwood, MS. To mark this occasion, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish will host an appreciation fellowship this Sunday, July 29th, after the 9:00 AM Mass in the parish center. Everyone is invited to attend.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish will have a fellowship next Sunday, August 5th, following the 11:00 AM English-language Mass, in the school cafeteria. All are welcome to attend.

The new school year at St. Francis begins on Wednesday, August 7th! To register your child at St. Francis, please call the School Office at 662-453-9511. You may also stop by school during regular office hours (8:00 AM - 4:00 PM). The registration fee is $250.00.

No cost to you and no registration required - FREE breakfasts and lunches are available on July 10-12 & 17-19 at the following high school cafeterias - Elzy and Leflore. These are for children 18 years and younger. Breakfasts are from 8:30 AM till 9:00 AM and lunches are from 11:00 AM till 12:30 PM.

Each Sunday after the 11:00 AM Mass, members of the Mardi Gras Committee are ready for the weekly 50/50 raffle. Each ticket is $1.00. The drawing for June will be on Sunday, July 1st, after Mass. Thank you for your contribution!

Sunday, June 10, 2018, representatives from The Holy Land Group will be present at St. Francis Parish to sell olive wood religious products from the Holy Land. These include crucifixes, statues, rosaries and the like. The proceeds from these sales go to assist the Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land. Let us prayerfully consider our practical support for these brothers and sisters who have chosen to remain in the Holy Land as a Christian witness in these very turbulent times. The Holy Land Group has authorization from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem...

You can drop off your aluminum cans in the trailer at St. Francis (behind the church). Not only are we helping the environment, but the money goes towards scholarships for St. Francis students. We thank you for you help!

Catholic Communication Campaign Collection A second collection for the Catholic Communication Campaign will be taken up next weekend, May 12 and 13. Your contribution connects people in the United States and around the world to the merciful love of Christ. And half of your donation stays in your diocese to support local communications projects! Please be generous.

Our Annual National Day of of Prayer will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2018, at 12 noon on the steps of the Leflore County Courthouse. This year’s theme is: “One Voice United in Prayer”. Come and join us. Prayer makes a difference for our lives, and for our country.

A second collection for the Catholic Home Missions Appeal will be taken up next weekend, April 28 and 29. Thank you for your contribution to help strengthen the Church at home! Your generosity will provide catechesis, seminarian education, lay ministry training, and other pastoral programs in needy dioceses across the United States.

Reminder - MVSU coming to St. Francis of Assisi Parish today! Representatives from Mississippi Valley State University will be at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in the school cafeteria after the 11:00 AM English-language and the 1:30 PM Spanish language Masses. There will be Spanish-speaking representatives from the university available. They will be present to give information about the university and possible fields of study and financial assistance for those who may be able to benefit. We thank them for coming to our parish.

Discovery Zone VIII will be held June 25-28, 2018 from 9:00 AM - 2:15 PM at St. Francis School. The program is free with snacks and lunch provided. Let your family, friends and neighbors know of this summer opportunity for our children.
The program is for children 5-13 years old. Sewing class is available for children 8th – 12th grade.
The registration deadline is April 30, 2018. Information and registration forms are available through St. Francis Parish and St.Francis School.

Matthew 18:20 - “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.”
This is a nine month rosary novena for Our Nation. Please join us in praying for the state of our nation with others across the nation. Patriotic Rosary Booklets will be available.
Where: Locus Benedictus at the statue of Mary, Mother of the Delta
Time: 6:30 PM Dates: April 15, May 15, June 15, July 15, August 15, September 15, October 15 and November 15, 2018. **Thursday, March 15 was the first scheduled rosary....

A Yard Sale will be held at IHM Parish Center on Saturday, April 28th, from 6 AM - 12 noon. Hot Tamales will also be on sale. If you have any items for the Yard Sale that you would like to donate, please bring them to the Parish Center. The Yard Sale will beneft St. Francis School.

Sunday, April 8th, is the Feast of Divine Mercy. There will be a Prayer Service at 3 PM at the Chapel of Mercy at Locus
Benedictus. Come and thank our Lord Jesus for His limitless Mercy and Love. All are invited.

This Sunday, March 11, there will be a showing of the movie, The Shack, as part of the Faith and Film element of Lent at St. Francis. The movie will begin at 4:00 PM in the school cafeteria. A light meal will be provided.

This Wednesday, March 28th, the last Interfaith Lenten Luncheon will be held at North Greenwood Baptist Church at 615 Grand Boulevard. Bring your lunch; beverages and desserts will be provided. (The speaker will be Rev. Jim Phillips, pastor of North Greenwood Baptist Church.)

Stations of the Cross will be held each Friday throughout Lent at St. Francis:
1:30 PM Stations of the Cross with school children
6:00 PM Stations of the Cross (English)
7:00 PM Stations of the Cross (Spanish)

This Sunday, February 11th, our Youth Group will be hosting a Flag Football Game at St. Francis at 4:00 PM. The
game will take place on the back field. Although this game is for the youth, we encourage parents and parishioners to come and participate as well!

St. Francis School Book Fair will be held from January 29th through February 2nd, from Noon until 3:30 PM in the library. Our online book fair will be up through February 6th at www.scholastic.com/bookfairs. Profts from the Book Fair will be used to buy new books for the school’s library.

The Catholic Diocese of Jackson and the Offce of Family Ministry is pleased to announce that the Diocesan World Marriage Day Celebration will be held Sunday, February 4, 2018 at 3:00 PM at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, Mississippi. There will be Mass with a reception immediately following.
The Mass honors all married couples, but invites those celebrating their 25th, 50th, and 60th anniversaries or any signifcant anniversary. Please contact your parish offce for registration details. For additional information, or questions, please call the Offce of ...

Catholics from around Mississippi will gather in Jackson on Wednesday, January 17, to participate in the
annual Catholic Day at the Capitol. This year our focus is on the tragic and unnecessary Mental Health crisis in Mississippi and the urgent need to enact legislation that will bring about needed change.
Mississippi is currently facing a lawsuit for its lack of compliance with the 2009 Olmstead Supreme Court ruling which required states "to provide community-based treatment for persons with mental disabilities when such placement is appropriate."
Pl...

A Communal Reconciliation Service for everyone (English and Spanish) will be held at St. Francis beginning at 6:00 PM on Monday, December 18th. You may celebrate with any one of the several priests available that evening.

The CYO will meet next Sunday, November 26th, at 4:00 PM at the IHM Parish Center. We will be preparing to send winter clothes from our clothing drive out into the Leflore County community. The Youth Leadership team will meet at 2:50 PM before the meeting. Thank you to everyone for your tremendous support of our CYO/Life Teen program. Derrick Faucheux - Youth Director

Pope Francis has named the thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary time the World Day of the Poor. The inaugural World Day of the Poor will be celebrated November 19, 2017
"It is my wish that, in the week preceding the World Day of the Poor, which falls this year on 19 November, the Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time, Christian communities will make every effort to create moments of encounter and friendship, solidarity and concrete assistance. They can invite the poor and volunteers to take part together in the Eucharist on this Sunday ... This Sunday, if there are p...

#iGiveCatholic on #GivingTuesday will be held from midnight until 11:59 PM on Tuesday, November 28. It's 24 hours of giving by Catholics for the Catholic community, but you have the opportunity to make your gifts in advance beginning November 10 and running through November 26. Transactions made on iGiveCatholic.org are secure and your donations of $25 or more are tax deductible. You can find additional information about #iGiveCatholic at their website #iGiveCatholic/about or by contacting Br. Craig Wilking, OFM at 662-453-0623. Help us inspire and celebrate Cathol...

Our CYO is putting on a Winter Clothing Drive for Men, Women, and Children. All winter items including jackets, hoodies, scarves, gloves, etc. can be donated and placed in the brown boxes in the IHM Parish Center.
All donations are due by Sunday, November 26th, and will support the poor in Leflore County. Thank you for supporting our CYO!

St. Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru, the illegitimate son to a Spanish gentleman and a freed slave from Panama, of African descent. As Martin grew older, he experienced a great deal of ridicule for being of mixed-race. Martin asked the Dominicans to accept him as a volunteer who performed the most menial tasks in the monastery. In return, he would be allowed to wear the habit and live within the religious community. Eventually he was formally received and worked as a servant boy. Martin was praised for his unconditional care of all people, regardless of race or weal...

This November, in a partnership with our Life Teen who are collecting food items for a “Thanksgiving -- Box of Love”, we are asking parishioners to donate the following canned items: turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, yams, vegetables, and/or boxes of instant potatoes, stuffing mixes, and the like. We are also looking for parishioners to donate canned hams or turkeys. The smaller items can be left at the back of the Church or at the IHM Parish Center. Please contact Derrick at 225-206-2430, if you are able to donate a turkey or ham.

On July 24, 1990, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United States designated November as Black Catholic History Month to celebrate the long history and proud heritage of Black Catholics. During this month we will feature a Black Saint or candidate for Sainthood. This week we have chosen Mother Henriette Delille.
Did you know that the founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family, based in New Orleans, Louisiana, is among three African American candidates for the sainthood in the Catholic Church?
Mother Henriette Delille (duh-LEEL) was born in 1812 as a &ldq...

Fr. Camillus Janas, OFM
My name is Camillus Janas, O.F.M. I was born in Manchester, N.H. and am 84 years old. I've been privileged to be a Franciscan for 65 years and a priest for 57 years. I try to live the gospel and share it with others. My hobby is: photography and occasional card making. My favorite color is red.
Fr. Joachim Studwell, OFM
Fr. Joachim Studwell, OFM, also called “Fr. Kim”, is a Franciscan friar and priest of the
Assumption BVM Province and currently lives with his Franciscan brothers at St. Francis of
Assi...